Almost five years after all trace of the old Reunion Arena vanished under the wrecking ball of progress, the site is once again returning to the spotlight for the NCAA Final Four’s free, three-day outdoor music festival next weekend at Reunion Park, topped by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

But it almost didn’t happen.

Planners were scouting several other locations in Dallas when they stumbled across the old Reunion site while staying across the street at the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel, said Shea Guinn, senior vice president for Turner Live Events, which is producing the music festival.

“We were looking out the window of the Hyatt and someone said ‘What’s that?’” Guinn said.

That was several acres of dirt where the old Reunion Arena once stood.

And just like that, an old star was reborn. Well, she needed some work done first.

They started sodding the site a few months ago. “The grass is green and lush,” Guinn said. “It’s a beautiful green lawn now.”

The old Reunion site has a number of things going for it, Guinn said. “We wanted to create something with an urban environment look and highlight the city,” he said.

The Dallas skyline makes an iconic urban backdrop for festivalgoers as well as for television, Guinn said. The stage is angled in such a way to face the Old Red Courthouse.

“It’s a beautiful skyline,” he said. “Dallas is really going to look good on television.”

The setup

Live music is the main attraction, but there will be much more to do inside the venue.

“It’s not just going to be an open field with a stage that’s thrown up there,” said Tony Fay, spokesman for the host committee. “There’s a fairly sophisticated venue that’s going to be built out.”

The venue includes a main stage that faces north, toward downtown, with large video boards on either side. Multi-level hospitality tents and VIP areas share space near the stage, and a sound tower stands in the middle of the lawn. Other attractions include a Ferris wheel and play areas with and pingpong tables and a basketball court.

In the back, at the site of the old water garden, the setup consists of a large video board and food trucks. “So you can go down there and still keep up with what’s going on,” said Lamar Green, who’s coordinating operations for the North Texas Local Organizing Committee.

The venue will be enclosed in a chain-link fence with three entrances. The main entrance will be located on Reunion Boulevard and Memorial Drive. Reunion Boulevard will be open to hotel and Reunion Tower traffic only.

Parking will be available at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and downtown lots. Concertgoers are encouraged to use DART. Those arriving in cars are urged to drive in from the east side of downtown.

No bags, backpacks or purses larger than 11 inches by 17 inches will be permitted, and no food or beverages will be allowed other than what is purchased from concessionaires inside the venue. Folding chairs and other large items, including bicycles, also are prohibited.

The music

Springsteen heads a strong lineup of performers that weekend.

Friday’s AT&T Block Party (3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) features Jason Aldean, the reigning Academy of Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year. The Eli Young Band, a country act with roots in Denton, will go on before Aldean.

Springsteen and the E Street Band, whose U.S. tour kicks off in Dallas, will headline the Capital One JamFest that Sunday. Also performing that day are the pop-rockers Fun and country singer Pat Green.

People can start lining up at 6 a.m. each day, but the three entrances won’t officially open until much later: Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at noon and Sunday at 2 p.m.

“In talking to the concert promoter, they’ve never had anyone show up at 6 a.m.,” Green said.

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